Mechanism for transmitting rotary motion.



No. 806,833. PATENTED DBG. 12,- 1905.

` J. P. PPLUM. MBCHANISM FOR TRANSMITTING ROTARY MOTION.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.16, 1905.

M/ne s 5 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. PFLUM, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CINCINNATI BUTCHERS SUPPLY, CO., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed August 18, 1905. Serial No. 274.668.

with the reference characters marked thereon,

which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for transmitting rotary motion at changeable speeds. It is more particularly designed for transmitting such motion to meat-cutting machines of the so-called Enterprise type, in

` which machines the meat is forced by means of a screw against the cutting devices and which screw is to be rotated by the driving mechanism which is the subject of this invention. The features of this latter relate to the construction whereby different speeds may be transmitted and to the means whereby my driving mechanism is detachably connected to the devices to be driven.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof, is found a full description of my invention, together with its operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows my driving mechanism in elevation and connected to a meat-cutter of the Enterprise type. Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1, shown as this latter appears when viewed from the left side. Fig. 3, in an enlarged sectional detail View, shows parts of the mechanism shown in the preceding figures, and more particularly the central part of the driven wheel, with the means for making connection to the shaft of the device to be driven. Fig. 4 shows the matter illustrated in Fig. 3 as it appears when viewed from the left side, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of thel members appearing in Fig. 3 in side view and in Fig. 4 in end View, it being more particularly a shaftcoupling.

As before stated, this invention is illustrated in connection with a meat-cutting device of the Enterprise type, but not necessarily limited thereto. Such a meat-cutting machine is shown in Fig. 1, 10 being the housing thereof and 11 the hopper into which the meat is fed. This latter is forced toward the cutting devices, which are at one end of the housing, by a spiral feed-screw mounted upon and operated by a shaft 12. Ordinarily this shaft is directly rotated by means of a crank-handle attached to its free projecting end, and in larger machines arrangement is made for power drive by means of pulleys or otherwise. I provide for such rotation my driving mechanism which is to be attached to the free projecting end of shaft 12 in place of a crank or the other means mentioned. This mechanism consists, primarily, of a driven wheel A, operatively mounted upon the end of shaft 12. The hub 13 of this wheel is supported in a bearing 14, to which it is held in a manner which permits ready detachment and which does not interfere with rotation. A pin 15 is used for such purpose, which is seated partly in bearing 14 and partly in an annular groove 16 in the outside of hub 13, which groove permits rotation of wheel A. The side of this wheel is provided with a series of concentriccircular rows of gear-teeth, (indicated at 17, 18, and 19.) This wheel A is rotated by the drive-wheel B, mounted rigidly upon a shaft 21, supported in bearings formed in standards 22. The initial driving power is applied to this shaft and may be by means of a hand-operated crank 23, combined with a fly-wheel 24, or by a power-driven belt-pulley or other gearing. Drive-wheel B is also provided with gear-cogs, and its shaft is'adjustably mounted in its bearings 22 and in a manner to permit it to be shifted lengthwise, so that wheel B may engage any one of the three rows of teeth 17, 18, and 19, thus changing the transmitted speed accordingly. The shaft is held in either one of its adjusted positions by suit- B, in proper position for engagement with either one of the gear-teeth on wheel A. Wheel B is provided with regular gear-cogs or spur-teeth 27 on its edge for engagement with either one of the rows of teeth 17 or 18, which latter two rows are crown gear-coge.

IOO

Itis also provided with teeth 28 on its side for engagement with the teeth of row 19. The engaging teeth of these two rows 19 and 28 are shaped so as to forma bevel-gear connection. The reason for this change is that crown-teeth arranged in the manner as shown in rows 17 and 18 cannot be shaped to lit accurately with the regular teeth 27 of wheel B, which inaccuracy increases as the size of the circle decreases by reason of the increasing convergency and consequent narrowness of the teeth. For this reason bevel gear-teeth have been provided for the smallest'or inner circle 19.

Devices of this kind, including thereby also the meat-cutters which are made by various diiferent manufacturers, are not always so accurately constructed as to permit a readilyfitting connection between the end of shaft 12 and the hub of driven wheel A, the centers of which parts are not always in perfect alinement. To provide for such contingencies and to still obtain an operative driving connection, I provide a coupling 29, occupying an opening 31 of similar, shape in the hub, but of larger size, so as to permit this coupling to accommodate itself to the position of the end of shaft 12 in case the same is not in alinement. (See Fig. All or part ofthe outside of this coupling is otherwise than round,`and, as shown at 32, or hexagonal or octagonal, and occupies a recess 33 of similar shape, but of larger size, so as not to interfere with the liberty of adjustment of the coupling to the position of the shaft end under conditions as before mentioned. This dierence in size is, however, not sufficient to prevent wheel A from engaging this coupling for the purpose of rotating shaft 12, which it does as soon as the loose fit is taken up, and as best shown in Fig. 4. The coupling is held in place by a plate 34, secured over recess 33. The engagement of the end of shaft 12 to coupling 29 may be by any suitable means` as, for instance, by a set-screw or by providing a flat surface on this shaft which fits against a similar Hat surface 35 incoupling 29. By this connection one device may be quickly connected to or removed from the other without diiiiculty or requiring dismantling and by merely connecting it to or detaching it from base 36. In either case the shaft end is simply inserted into or drawn out of coupling 29. Speed may be quickly changed by unlocking shaft 21 and by shifting it lengthwise. The new position is quickly found and proper engagement of the gearrotation at variable speeds, consisting of a' driven wheel adapted to receive in its hub the end of the shaft to be driven and being provided on its side with a number of sets of gearteeth, a bearing to which the hub of this wheel is fitted, a pin occupying a bore, formed partly in this bearing and partly formed by an annular groove around the outside of this hub whereby the wheel is held in position without interfering with the rotation and permitting quick detachment, a driving-wheel supported adjustably with reference to this driven wheel so as to engage any one of the sets of gearteeth thereon and means to rotate this driving-wheel.

2. A driving mechanism for transmitting rotation at variable speeds, consisting of a driven wheel adapted to be operatively connected to the device to be operated and being provided on its side with a number of sets of crown gear-teeth and with a central set of bevel gear-teeth, a driving-wheel having on its face spur-teeth and bevel gear-teeth adjoining them, said driving-wheel being adjustably mounted in a manner to permit engagement of it with either one of the sets of gearteeth on the driven wheel, and means to rotate the drive-wheel.

3. A driving mechanism for transmitting rotation, consisting of a drivingwheel, a driven wheel having an axially -perforated hub, and a coupling loosely fitted into this perforation and adapted to receive the end of the shaft to be driven.

4f. A driving mechanism for transmitting rotation, consisting of a shaft-coupling adapted to receive the end of the shaft to be rotated, a driven wheel having an opening in its hub to receive this shaft-coupling, which latter is otherwise than round so as to rotate with the driven wheel, but smaller than the opening which it occupies, to permit a certain limited play, rotary as well as axially, a driving-wheel to rotate the driven wheel and means to actuate the drive-wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afhx my signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. PFLUM.

Witnesses:

GUs'rAv SCHMIDT, C. SPENGEL. 

